Hidden Buddhas: A Novel of Karma and Chaos

by Liza Dalby

"Hidden Buddhas may well be Liza Dalby's best work yet; with its fascinating story of characters caught up in a world they themselves don't understand. Besides taking us on a journey through little-known corners of Japan, it offers us an engaging and believable portrait of people driven to do things they may not have imagined." —Arthur Golden, author of Memoirs of a Geisha

According to Buddhist theology, the world is suffering through a final corrupt era called mappô. As mappô continues, chaos will increase until the center can no longer hold. Then the world will end. In Japan, many believe that Miroku, Buddha of the Future, will appear and bring about a new age of enlightenment.

From this ancient notion of doom and rebirth comes a startling new novel by the acclaimed author of Geisha and The Tale of Murasaki. Hundreds of temples in Japan are known to keep mysterious "hidden buddhas" secreted away except on rare designated viewing days. These statues are not hidden because they are powerful—their power lies in their being hidden. Are they being protected, or are they protecting the world?

In this novel, one Buddhist priest struggles with the dictates of his inherited orthodoxy, while another rebels. An American graduate student begins to suspect the mysterious purpose of the hidden buddhas, just as he falls in love with a beautiful Japanese artist who is haunted by an aborted child. The weaving of karma that brings these two together results in a tech-savvy half-Western, half-Japanese child who text-messages her way through the profane world to enlightenment.

Tracing the lives of its characters through the late twentieth century to the present, from Paris to Kyoto to California, Hidden Buddhas turns a cosmopolitan eye on discipline and decadence in religion, fashion, politics, and modern life.

Liza Dalby is an anthropologist and writer specializing in Japan. She lives in Berkeley, California.

Genres: Fiction, Japan, Historical Fiction, Asian Literature, Historical, Asia

396 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

With its fascinating story of characters caught up in a world they themselves don't understand, Hidden Buddhas may well be Liza Dalby's best work yet. Besides taking us on a journey through little-known corners of Japan, it offers us an engaging and believable portrait of people driven to do things they may not have imagined." --Arthur Golden, author of Memoirs of a Geisha

According to esoteric Buddhist theology, the world is suffering through a final corrupt era. Many in Japan believe that after the world ends, the Buddha of the Future will appear and bring about a new age of enlightenment. Hundreds of temples in Japan are known to keep mysterious hidden buddhas secreted away except on rare designated viewing days. Are they being protected, or are they protecting the world?

From these ancient notions of doom and rebirth comes a startling new novel by the acclaimed author of Geisha and The Tale of Murasaki. Hidden Buddhas: A Novel of Karma and Chaos explores the karmic connections between Japanese fashion, pilgrimage, dying honeybees, bad girls with cell phones, murder by blowfish, and the Buddhist apocalypse. Something of a Buddhist Da Vinci Code, Hidden Buddhas travels through time to expose a mystery you will never forget."

Reviews

[G.G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wanted something a little bit eerie to read, in case it's really true that feeling spooked helps you to stay cool in summer, and so picked this novel and was instantly hooked. I can't say it helped me to keep cool, but it did keep me turning pages until I had to force myself to turn out the light and try to get some sleep! Also enjoyed the feelings of recognition Dalby's wonderfully vivid, so alive to the texture of life descriptions of places and customs aroused. Perhaps the Kagurazaka scenes were the most natsukashii to read, but the south of France scenes were also beautifully evocative.

[Annm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another fabullously researched, fabulously written work by Liza Dalby. I really enjoyed the characters, and the way the author moved the story along through the years. Great read!

[Leanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I have read all of Dalby's nonfiction work, this was my read of one of her novels. I was disappointed since I am such a big fan of her nonfiction work. While it is wonderfully researched and the expository sections on religion and culture are fantastic, the novelistic aspects of the book are pretty problematic. Characters are two-dimensional and it has a romance novel feeling (with women who are so beautiful they stop traffic and men strikingly talented, intelligent and wealthy).Main characters are gorgeous and successful. The love scenes in particular were hard to read. The cover of the book maybe speaks to this romance novel feeling. The plot was also VERY hard to take. "A novel of "karma and chaos" ~~ what does that mean? Well, even if you are okay with the ghost story feeling of things, the ending will probably confuse you. So, wait, mappo ends with North Korea firing nuclear on Tokyo and Mayumi is the demon but also the miroku buddha...??? What???? Karma and Chaos for sure! I hate saying this since I am a huge fan of her work... her memoir in seasons is just beautiful. I think I will read Murasaki next to see if it is better. I love Liza Dalby!

[Andrew Singer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hidden Buddhas weaves an explicit yet subtle exploration of Buddhism with Japanese history and culture, memorable characters, and an engaging story in a contemporary setting. There are plot twists along the way that suprised me as the journey marches on to a conclusion I was not expecting, but one which has me thinking. Life is suffering; Suffering comes from desire; Eliminate desire and suffering will cease; Follow the Eight-Fold Path to eliminate desire. These are the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism. I find myself asking what do we control and not control? When is doing what seems to be the right thing, the wrong thing? Can you do the right thing for the wrong reasons? Do intentions matter? Can we know where we are heading and what will come? I recommend Hidden Buddhas.

[Books on Asia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Liza Dalby is one of my favorite authors on Japan but, to me, this book is not representative of her command of the beauty of the English language. "Lady Murasaki" was stunning in all aspects of poetry, prose, and novel development. "Kimono" and "Geisha" incredibly rich in research, detail and language. Read those first.

[Bryan Glosemeyer · Rating 2 out of 5]

very disappointing. I really wanted to like this book more than I did, but it just didn't have it. The writing is wholly unremarkable. The characters are two-dimensional and non-compelling. would not recommend.

[Librarianaut · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a lyrical three-part harmony of modern life, timeless Japanese nostalgia, and a glimpse of the Unmind/Mind. I loved it for its boldness and romance, flirting with a few of the BigQuestions of life and spirituality.

[Todd Mayville · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://www.elephantjournal.com/2010/0...

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting,loved the history & Zen messages, but the ending was sort of a let down.

[Jilian Giles]

I didn't finish this book. I couldn't get into it.

[Meryam · Rating 4 out of 5]

great novel, couldn't put it down, but the ending was a little disappointing!

[Mills College Library]

Fiction D137h 2009